Case

ABSTRACT

A container comprises a bottom part or tray which is closed by a telescopically engageable top part or cover. The top part carries latching members which terminate in hook ends which engage into detents or latch elements carried on the bottom part. The latch members on the top part are carried on swing levers which are pivoted at one end and biased together by springs at the opposite end. At least one rotatable knob is located between the swing levers and it includes a disc portion defining a camming surface against which the respective levers engage under the biasing action of the spring. Each disc includes a recess portion which is engageable with a projecting portion defined on the associated swing lever. When the projecting portions of the swing levers are engaged in the recesses of the disc member the latch members carried thereby may be moved to a position in which they are out of engagement with the detent on the bottom part to release the top cover from the bottom part. The knobs may be rotated however to move the disc members so that the projections on the levers ride on the outer peripheral surface of the disc and thus move into engagement with the projections. Preferably, a plurality of discs are provided and each has an indicia or set of numerical numbers for indicating a combination which shows up through a viewing window on the top cover. The box may be opened only when the correct combination is set in the viewing window at which time the projections on the swing levers will fit into the recesses of the discs. The device also includes an actuating button which includes a portion which extends between the free ends of the swing levers and holds them apart but which may be depressed to cause them to move together in order to move the latch elements out of engagement with the detents.

United States Patent [1 1 Kobayashi July 8,1975

[ CASE [76] Inventor: Sanzo Kobayashi, No. 34-9, Ryusen 3-chrome, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan Primary ExaminerAlbert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcGlew and Tuttle [57] ABSTRACT A container comprises a bottom part or tray which is closed by a telescopically engageable top part or cover. The top part carries latching members which terminate in hook ends which engage into detents or latch elements carried on the bottom part. The latch members on the top part are carried on swing levers which are pivoted at one end and biased together by springs at the opposite end. At least one rotatable knob is located between the swing levers and it includes a disc portion defining a camming surface against which the respective levers engage under the biasing action of the spring. Each disc includes a recess portion which is engageable with a projecting portion defined on the associated swing lever. When the projecting portions of the swing levers are engaged in the recesses of the disc member the latch members carried thereby may be moved to a position in which they are out of engagement with the detent on the bottom part to release the top cover from the bottom part. The knobs may be rotated however to move the disc members so that the projections on the levers ride on the outer peripheral surface of the disc and thus move into engagement with the projections. Preferably, a plurality of discs are provided and each has an indicia or set of numerical numbers for indicating a combination which shows up through a viewing window on the top cover. The box may be opened only when the correct combination is set in the viewing window at which time the projections on the swing levers will fit into the recesses of the discs. The device also includes an actuating button which includes a portion which extends between the free ends of the swing levers and holds them apart but which may be depressed to cause them to move together in order to move the latch elements out of engagement with the detents.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to the construction of containers and in particular to a new and useful pencil case having interengageable top and bottom portions with a latch on one of the portions which is engageable in a detent in the other and which includes swing lever means which carries the latch which are moved into and out of engagement positions by settable rotatable disc members which block movement of the swing levers to cause movement of the latch members out of engagement with the detents except when the disc members are set at a predetermined location.

2. Description of the Prior Art The present invention is particularly applicable to inexpensive devices such as pencil cases which do not normally have locking devices or which have very inexpensive and unsatisfactory locking devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved container with an inexpensive and reliable locking device which is particularly suitable for childrens pencil boxes inasmuch as it provides a novel and interesting construction of a locking mechanism. The present invention includes two interengageable container parts one of which has an engagement latch and the other of which has a receiving detent. A pivotal or swingable lever is mounted on one of the parts and its free end is biased into a position in which the latch carried by the swing lever is moved out of engagement with the detent. The swing lever with the latch may move out of engagement only when a rotatable control disc is oriented so that a recess on its surface aligns with a projection on the swing lever so that the displacement of the swing lever becomes possible. The device is locked by rotating the disc so that the projection on the swing lever rides on the outer surface of the disc and thus is moved back into a position in which the latch carried thereby engages in the detent.

In a preferred form of the invention the cover or top part of the case is provided with a hollow compartment providing a mounting for two pivotal swing levers which are pivoted at their one ends and which are bi ased together by a of engagement with a locking detent.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings the example of a case in the present invention is shown.

FIG. I is the perspective view of the case as a whole.

FIG. 2 is the perspective view of the lid.

FIG. 3 is the perspective view of the case proper.

FIG. 4 is the sectional view along the AA line in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is the sectional view along the A'-A' line in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is the perspective view of the lock device seen from the upside.

FIG. 7 is the perspective view ofthe lock device seen from the underside.

FIG. 8 shows the knob turned to the blank position in FIG. 7.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in particular. the invention embodied therein comprises a container or casing which includes a bottom part or rectangular tray [7 which is telescopically engaged with a top or cover I.

In accordance with the invention one of the parts for example the cover includes a pair of longitudinally extending swing levers 8 and 8 which are located in a compartment or housing 2 of the top I and which are pivotally mounted at their one ends and include opposite free ends which are held together or biased together by a spring 10. The swing levers 8 and 8' carry latch members 15 and 15 respectively which engage with detents or projections 18 and 18' respectively of the bottom tray 17. As best shown in FIG. 6 the two swing levers 8 and 8' may be moved together or toward each other sufficiently to bring the latches l5 and 15' out of engagement with the detents I8 and 18' only when disc members 3 are rotated to a position at which recesses 4 therein are aligned with projections 9 of the respective swing levers. At other times the projections ride on the surfaces of the disc so as to hold the swing levers outwardly in which the latch elements 15 and 15' engage with the detents l8 and I8. Each disc member 3 includes a knob S for rotating it and it includes a series of numbers or indicia 6 each one of which may be aligned in turn below a viewing window 7. It is only when the correct combinstion of numbers is visible that the recesses will align with the projections 9 so that the latches can be released and the container opened. As an added precaution the device includes an operating button 14 which holds the swing levers 8 and 8' in a separated position even though the recesses 4 are aligned with the projections 9 but which will permit the swing levers to move together when the button 14 is depressed.

The present invention relates to a case of a covering type characterized by the structure in which the housing 2 is provided to the ceiling wall of the lid 1, a plurality of disc 3 being freely rotatably supported on the axis, the fixing indentations 4 and 4' being provided at the symmetrical position, in the periphery of the disc 3, the knob 5 being provided to the surface of each disc 3, a part of the knob 5 being protruded through the surface of the ceiling wall 2' of the housing 2, the signs 6 such as numerals being marked on the surface of the cocentric circle of each disc 3 so that one of the signs can be seen through the display window 7 provided to the ceiling wall 2' of the housing 2, a pair of swing levers 8 and 8' provided with fixing projections 9 and 9' which engage or disengage with said fixing indentations 4 and 4' being located on the inner edge of the both sides of the disc 3 in the housing 2 with one end of each swing lever supported freely rotatably on the axis, the free end of each swing lever being provided with the spring 10 which attracts both ends together, the split member 12 being provided between the joints II and II formed at said free ends so that split condition can be maintained by means of the spring element 13, the operating button 14 being provided on the surface of the split member 12, a part of the operating button 14 being protruded through the ceiling wall 2 of the housing 2, the hooked projections 15 and 15' turning outward being provided on the underside in the middle between said swing levers 8 and 8', and the tips of the hooked projections 15 and 15' are protruded through the holes 16 and 16' from the lower wall 2" of the housing 2 toward the underside so that the hooked projections l and 15' can be unlocked at the connections 18 and 18 provided to the case proper 17 when all the fixing projections 9 and 9' fix into the fixing indentations 4 and 4 and locked when at least one of the fixing projections 9 and 9' is released from the fixing indentatron.

In the example shown, the turning operation of the knob 5 makes clicking sounds by pressing the elastic pieces 2] with pawls 20 provided where required in the housing onto the teeth of the ratchet wheel 19 provided on the underside of the disc 3.

As is clearly seen from the description of the present invention. it is necessary first to previously memorize the sign 6 shown in the display window 7 when the fixing projections 9 and 9 fix into the fixing indentations 4 and 4'. By pressing down the operating button 14 when said memorized sign 6 is shown in the display window 7 by turning the knob 5, the swing levers 8 and 8' which is subject to the traction power of the spring move inwardly due to the fixing of the fixing projections 9 and 9 and the fixing indentations 4 and 4' and make the hooked projections and 15' provided thereto take the position of releasing the engagement. Then. by placing the lid 1 on the case proper l7 and turning one or all of the knobs 5 to the position of blank, the swing levers 8 and 8 can be restored to the original position against the traction power of the spring 10 and the hooked projections 15 and I5 provided to the swing levers 8 and 8' engage with the connections l8 and 18' provided to the case proper 17, thereby making it impossible to open the lid 1. On the other hand. by pressing down the operating button 14 when the memorized sign 6 is shown in the display window 7 by turning the knob 5, the engagement of the hooked projections 15 and 15' can be released and the lid 1 can be opened.

In the present invention consisting of the structure described above. the locking and unlocking can easily and exactly be done in the method mentioned above, and especially it is interesting to note that the lid can not be unlocked unless the memorized sign is used.

What is claimed is:

l. A case of a covering type characterized by the structure in which the housing(2) is provided on the ceiling wall of the lid(l), a plurality of disc(3) being freely rotatably supported on the axis, the fixing indentations(4) and (4') being provided at the symmetrical position in the periphery of the disc(3), the knob(5) being provided to the surface of each disc(3), a part of the knob(5) being protruded through the surface of the ceiling wall(2) of the housing(2), the signs(6) such as numerals being marked on the surface of the cocentric circle of each disc(3) so that one of the signs can be seen through the display window(7) provided to the ceiling wall(2') of the housing(2), a pair of swing levers(8) and (8') provided with fixing projections(9) and (9') which engage or disengage with said fixing indentations(4) and (4') being located on the inner edge of the both sides of the disc(3) in the housing(2) with one end of each swing lever supported freely rotatably on the axis. the free end of each swing lever being provided with the spring(l0) which attracts both ends together. the split member(lZ) being provided between the joints(ll) and (11') formed at said free ends so that split condition can be maintained by means of the spring element(l3). the operating buttontl4) being provided on the surface ofthe split member( [2). a part of the operating button(l4) being protruded through the ceiling wall(2') of the housing(2). the hooked projections( l5) and (15) turning outward being provided on the underside in the middle between said swing levers(8) and (8'), and the tip of the hooked projections(l5) and (15') are protruded through the holes (16) and (16) from the lower wallt2") of the housing(2) toward the underside so that the hooked projections(lS) and (15) can be unlocked at the connections( l8) and (18) provided to the case proper( 17) when all the fixing projections(9) and (9') fix into the fixing indentations(4) and (4) and locked when at least one of the fixing projections(9) and (9') is released from the fixing indentations(4) and (4).

2. A container comprising a bottom part and a top part for closing said bottom part, latch means associated with said top and bottom parts for latching said parts together including a hook member carried on one of said parts engageable with a detent carried on the other of said parts, a swing lever pivotally mounted on said one of said parts carrying said hook member, spring means biasing said swing lever means toward a direction to move said hook member out of engagement with said detent, a plurality of rotatable disc members each having indicia thereon rotatably mounted on one of said parts in a position in which a portion of the indicia is visible and each having a cam disc portion bearing against an edge of said swing lever and holding it against the biasing of said spring means into a position in which said swing lever hook member is engaged with said detent. said cam disc portion having a recess which engages with said swing lever at a se lected position of each disc member when a selected portion of the indicia of said disc member is visible, said swing lever being movable only when all of said discs are at said selected position into the recess under the influence of said spring means into a position in which said hook member can disengage from said detent, a second lever, each of said lever and said second lever being pivotally mounted at their one ends and having opposite free ends. said spring means being engaged between said first and second lever members adjacent their free ends and urging them together, and an operating button disposed between said free ends and spacing said free ends apart sufficiently to maintain said hook member in engagement with said detent, said operating button being depressible to permit said free ends to move together to disengage said hook member from said detent.

3. A container comprising a bottom part, a top part for closing said bottom part, latch means for latching said top and bottom parts together including first and second spaced apart pivotal levers carried by one of said parts, at least one of said first and second levers having a hook member, a detent carried by the other of said parts and engageable with said hook member to lock said container top and bottom parts together, a plurality of rotatable discs. means mounting said discs between said first and second levers at spaced locations along their lengths in engagement with an edge of and holding said one of said first and second levers in a position in which said hook member is engaged with said 6 detent. said discs each having a recess portion alignable biasing said levers together and a push button disposed in least one angular P sald one of 531d between said levers and preventing movement of the first and second levers to perm t sald lever to move into free ends completely together push button being the recesses when all of said dXSCS are so positioned, m

a direction into said recess to cause said hook member to move out of engagement with said detent. biasing gethermeans connected between said first and second levers 5 depressible to free said levers for inward movement to- 

1. A case of a covering type characterized by the structure in which the housing(2) is provided on the ceiling wall of the lid(1), a plurality of disc(3) being freely rotatably supported on the axis, the fixing indentations(4) and (4'') being provided at the symmetrical position in the periphery of the disc(3), the knob(5) being provided to the surface of each disc(3), a part of the knob(5) being protruded through the surface of the ceiling wall(2'') of the housing(2), the signs(6) such as numerals being marked on the surface of the cocentric circle of each disc(3) so that one of the signs can be seen through the display window(7) providEd to the ceiling wall(2'') of the housing(2), a pair of swing levers(8) and (8'') provided with fixing projections(9) and (9'') which engage or disengage with said fixing indentations(4) and (4'') being located on the inner edge of the both sides of the disc(3) in the housing(2) with one end of each swing lever supported freely rotatably on the axis, the free end of each swing lever being provided with the spring(10) which attracts both ends together, the split member(12) being provided between the joints(11) and (11'') formed at said free ends so that split condition can be maintained by means of the spring element(13), the operating button(14) being provided on the surface of the split member(12), a part of the operating button(14) being protruded through the ceiling wall(2'') of the housing(2), the hooked projections(15) and (15'') turning outward being provided on the underside in the middle between said swing levers(8) and (8''), and the tip of the hooked projections(15) and (15'') are protruded through the holes (16) and (16'') from the lower wall(2'''') of the housing(2) toward the underside so that the hooked projections(15) and (15'') can be unlocked at the connections(18) and (18'') provided to the case proper(17) when all the fixing projections(9) and (9'') fix into the fixing indentations(4) and (4'') and locked when at least one of the fixing projections(9) and (9'') is released from the fixing indentations(4) and (4'').
 2. A container comprising a bottom part and a top part for closing said bottom part, latch means associated with said top and bottom parts for latching said parts together including a hook member carried on one of said parts engageable with a detent carried on the other of said parts, a swing lever pivotally mounted on said one of said parts carrying said hook member, spring means biasing said swing lever means toward a direction to move said hook member out of engagement with said detent, a plurality of rotatable disc members each having indicia thereon rotatably mounted on one of said parts in a position in which a portion of the indicia is visible and each having a cam disc portion bearing against an edge of said swing lever and holding it against the biasing of said spring means into a position in which said swing lever hook member is engaged with said detent, said cam disc portion having a recess which engages with said swing lever at a selected position of each disc member when a selected portion of the indicia of said disc member is visible, said swing lever being movable only when all of said discs are at said selected position into the recess under the influence of said spring means into a position in which said hook member can disengage from said detent, a second lever, each of said lever and said second lever being pivotally mounted at their one ends and having opposite free ends, said spring means being engaged between said first and second lever members adjacent their free ends and urging them together, and an operating button disposed between said free ends and spacing said free ends apart sufficiently to maintain said hook member in engagement with said detent, said operating button being depressible to permit said free ends to move together to disengage said hook member from said detent.
 3. A container comprising a bottom part, a top part for closing said bottom part, latch means for latching said top and bottom parts together including first and second spaced apart pivotal levers carried by one of said parts, at least one of said first and second levers having a hook member, a detent carried by the other of said parts and engageable with said hook member to lock said container top and bottom parts together, a plurality of rotatable discs, means mounting said discs between said first and second levers at spaced locations along their lengths in engagement with an edge of and holding said one of said first and second levers in a position in which said hook member is engaged with said deTent, said discs each having a recess portion alignable in at least one angular position with said one of said first and second levers to permit said lever to move into the recesses when all of said discs are so positioned, in a direction into said recess to cause said hook member to move out of engagement with said detent, biasing means connected between said first and second levers biasing said levers together and a push button disposed between said levers and preventing movement of the free ends completely together, said push button being depressible to free said levers for inward movement together. 